Chef Jeremiah Bullfrog Launches Chefs Cook Keto Event for Epilepsy Awareness

No stranger to gathering talented chefs for a single culinary purpose, Jeremiah Bullfrog has brought several successful tasting events to Miami, including Duck Duck Goose, Pop Ramen, P.I.G. (Pork Is Good), and the recently announced Chefs Cook Keto.

Taking place Wednesday, December 11, at Cvltvra Restaurant at the Gabriel Hotel in downtown Miami, Chefs Cook Keto promises plenty of eating, drinking, and live music, as well as an educational component for guests looking to learn more about the ketogenic diet and how to make keto-friendly food at home. More a lifestyle than a fad, the keto diet is high in fats and low in carbohydrates, forcing the body into a state of ketosis, in which fat instead of glucose is burned.

According to the Epilepsy Foundation, the diet "helps to control seizures in some people with epilepsy." To help the public learn more about how a keto diet can help people with this neurological disorder, Epilepsy Florida is one of the main partners of the event. (Though data has shown a ketogenic diet helps people with brain disorders and lowers blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, the long-term effects of the high-fat diet have not been thoroughly evaluated.)

"My brother has epilepsy," Chef Jeremiah tells New Times. "He's had it since I was a kid, so I grew up with it and know how hard it can be for people who can't control their seizures. The first I heard about the keto diet was on a podcast, and how especially in young patients that diet alone can help control seizures. For me as a chef, that's just amazing. You always hear 'you are what you eat,' but literally how you eat can seriously affect your health." 

Being on the keto diet himself, Jeremiah sees a tremendous opportunity within the culinary world to bring his knowledge to the table and serve some delicious food with his peers. The event lineup so far includes Norman Van Aken, Brandon Baltzley of Buffalo Jump in Boston, Fabian Dipaolo of Cvltura, Kurtis Jantz of Armani Casa, Sasha Ariel of Madruga Bakery, James Strine of Trophy Room in West Palm Beach, and Giselle Pinto of Sugar Yummy Mama.

Each chef will prepare a keto-friendly dish, and Jeremiah will perform a cooking demo, incorporating good fats such as avocado and eggs while adding a twist by creating perhaps a pâté dish. "I'm superstoked to be able to show people who are eating keto or Paleo or low-carb in general how cool keto can be. The takeaway from this event is whether you're keto or not, you can eat the food and feel like you've had a ridiculously good meal." His passion is evident, and he even alludes to a possible keto cookbook.

Though a strict keto diet dictates no booze, this event will pour low-sugar or sugar-free cocktails for guests who wish to partake. Live music will come courtesy of local guitarist Danny Hayoun, who performed at Jeremiah's Pop Ramen event in September.

So whether you're keto-curious or not, the event will offer an opportunity to sample creative dishes by some of the area's top chefs, support Epilepsy Florida, and maybe learn a thing or two to inspire some New Year's resolutions.

Chefs Cook Keto. 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 11, at Cvltvra, 1100 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 305-808-3507; cvltvra.com. Tickets cost $50 via eventbrite.com.